Check out the Little Free Library in front of City Hall

The Little Free Library was dedicated in front of City Hall in Port Jervis on Saturday, where it will be permanently located.

Robert Demono

The Little Free Library was dedicated in front of City Hall in Port Jervis on Saturday, where it will be permanently located.

A gift of the Friends of the Port Jervis Free Library, the book exchange is part of a worldwide movement to promote literacy. The project's goal is to build more than 2,509 little libraries around the world — to exceed the number of libraries built by Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

Sue Clayton, vice president of the Friends of the Port Jervis Free Library board of directors, explained, "The Little Free Library is a project, a worldwide nonprofit community movement, to offer free books in public spaces in an effort to promote literacy, community, and a love of reading."

Book lovers can take a book or leave a book from the small structure that holds approximately 25 books. Borrowing books is strictly on the honor system, said Clayton, with no check-in or check-out.

Nine-year-old Michael Robin, of Matamoras, Pa., was among the first to take advantage of the mini-library at the dedication ceremony. He donated a book, and borrowed "Ripley's Believe It or Not! Amazing Escapes."

The structure that houses the books was built by the Berg family.

"It turned into a family project," said Peg Berg, although son Jason was responsible for most of the planning and construction. The library, she said, took a couple of days to build. The little library was painted by Selina Tedesco, Berg's former English student.

Beverly Arlequeeuw is the director of the Port Jervis Free Library. She brought the idea of the Little Free Library to the Friends, and they "ran with it. They have brought the Little Free Library to our community. And I hope it is used a lot."

Local businesses are encouraged to contact the Port Jervis Free Library if they are interested in having a little library located on their property. "Possibly it can expand to another location or two," Arlequeeuw said. "Maybe Little Free Libraries can pop up in other areas around town."

Mayor Russell Potter was on hand for the dedication. "I would like to thank the Friends of the Free Library for including the city in this," he said. "They asked us if they can put this in our front yard, so to speak, so it is more centralized. And it was definitely a 'yes.' The Council went for it immediately."

Since the little library was erected, more people have been taking books than returning them. The mayor reminded the community that "a lot of people are taking the books and reading them. Make sure you bring them back so others can read them also."

One of the goals of the Little Free Library project is to promote reading among the youth. Potter spoke of the importance of literacy, and the focus on young readers. "The youth is our future," he said. "And that right there (the Little Free Library) shows you, we have a pretty good-looking future."